Torte

A torte is a luxurious, multilayered cake typically filled with rich ingredients such as whipped cream, buttercreams, mousses, jams, or fruits. Baked in a springform pan, it is often glazed and elegantly adorned. While sponge cake frequently serves as the foundation, tortes can also be made with layers incorporating ground nuts or breadcrumbs instead of flour.

Several renowned tortes come to mind, including the Austrian Sachertorte and Linzertorte, the German Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte (commonly known as Black Forest cake), and the Hungarian Dobos torte. Interestingly, in countries such as Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, and Russia, the term "torte" is often used synonymously with "cake" regardless of the specific kind.

Icing is a prominent feature in many tortes, often lavishly spread between layers and over the top and sides. However, certain European varieties, like the French Gâteau Mercédès and Gâteau Alcazar, forgo icing entirely. Additionally, some tortes, such as the German-style "Käsesahnetorte" (cheese cream torte), are distinct in that they are not baked at all.